West Springfield approves new traffic rules at Philip G. Coburn School to make arrival, dismissal of students safer

WEST SPRINGFIELD - The Philip G. Coburn School will have a new area and system for parents who drop off and pick up their children on school days.

The City Council on Monday approved new parking regulations that provide for no parking zones along Southworth Street in order to make arrival and dismissal at the elementary school safer for the children. The school is located at 115 Southworth St.

The council's Traffic and Safety Committee had been working on the issue after Coburn principal Colleen M. Marcus approached one of its members with a concern about safety and traffic. The committee met at the school during dismissal, and saw first-hand parents parking across the street from the school and beckoning to their children to cross, despite the fact that there is no crosswalk in front of the school.

Public works officials advised against establishing a crosswalk at that spot since it is in the middle of the block and not considered a safe option.

Monday's approval of the parking limits was the last hurdle to establishing the drop-off area and zone.

Councilor Paul H. Boudo, who is chairman of the Traffic and Safety Committee, said the mayor has approved including the project's $33,000 cost in this year's budget for sidewalk and road improvements. The project will include bumping in the sidewalk at the front of the school to provide room for eight cars to pull up to drop off or pick up children. The parking regulations provide a five-minute wait period in the zone from 8 to 8:45 a.m. and 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. on school days.

Boudo said any parent needing longer will have to pull into the school's parking lot to park.

No parking will be allowed on the northern side of Southworth Street, across from the school, during the same hours. Parking will be allowed at other times and when school is not in session.

There will be no changes to how the buses enter and exit the school grounds, Boudo said.